The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Chronic neck pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence for the effectiveness of complementary therapies. This study aimed to test the efficacy of cupping massage in patients with neck pain. Patients and Methods: Patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomly assigned to cupping massage or a wait list control. The intervention group received 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis while the control patients continued their usual treatments. The primary outcome measure was neck pain intensity (0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)) after 3 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain on movement, functional disability, health-related quality of life, mechanical detection and pain thresholds and adverse events. Results: 50 patients (52.6 ± 10.3 years, 92% female) were randomised to either cupping massage or a wait list (N = 25 each). Patients in the cupping group reported significantly less neck pain post intervention (difference per protocol -14.3 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) -27.7 to -1.0, p = 0.037; difference intention-to-treat -10.8 mm, 95% CI -21.5 to -0.1, p = 0.047). Significant group differences in favour of the intervention were further found for pain on movement (p = 0.019) and functional disability (p < 0.001), the quality-of-life subscales pain (p = 0.002) and mental health (p = 0.003) and the mental component summary (p = 0.036). Changes were also found for pressure pain sensitivity at the site of maximal pain (p = 0.022). Five adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Cupping massage appears to be effective in reducing pain and increasing function and quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm and extend these results.

Innovative Technology for High Performance and Mass Participation Sport

“…The effects of DC have centered around pain relief as most of the research in dry cupping has focused on treatment of chronic pain in the general population. Pain relief has been found to be a major effect of cupping as reported in most studies involving DC, which supports the more widespread use of it as a therapeutic intervention [46][47][48][49][50]. In the athletic community, there is often a need for immediate pain relief.…”

“…Despite the broad, varied, and long history of cupping as medical treatment, the technique fell out of favor in the West until a relatively recent resurgence. The common theme in all cupping practice is a suction applied to the skin using a cup-like tool [46][47][48]. Historically, these cups have been made out of bamboo, glass, or metal [49].…”

“…Traditional static cupping involves placing the cup on the skin with suction and leaving the cup in place. The patient may be moved through passive or active range of motion during the treatment, but the cups are not moved [46,49]. As the cups are moved across the skin, it is referred to as cupping massage.…”

Evidence-Based Methods of Complementary Medicine: A Claim for Their Transfer into Practical Use in Chronic Diseases

“…The results were achieved with various scientific approaches. Though preliminary, they are predominantly promising and hopefully stimulating further research as well as practical transfer: -In a randomised waitlist-controlled study in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain, a series of 10 cupping massages appeared to be effective in reducing pain and increasing function and quality of life [1]. -In a study on Chinese herbal medicine, the survival benefits of herb pairs were calculated by cluster analyses, association rules, and survival evaluation in 95 patients with esophageal cancer.…”

The Effect of Cupping Therapy on Non-specific Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…reported Improvement of neck pain with cupping therapy including severity of pain, ability to movement, and quality of life (14,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). However, given the variety of studies, it is difficult to conclude on the consistency of the efficacy and the direction of causality.…”